Charlotte Mew

Charlotte Mew, born in London on November 15, 1869 into a family of seven children, would die by her own hand on March 24, 1928: she had lost all her family to death or pyschiatric hospitals. She was educated at a

Afternoon Tea

by Charlotte Mew (1869–1928)

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16

P lease you, excuse me, good five-o'clock people,

I've lost my last hatful of words,

And my heart's in the wood up above the church steeple,

I'd rather have tea with the birds.

Gay Kate's stolen kisses, poor Barnaby's scars,

John's losses and Mary's gains,

Oh! what do they matter, my dears, to the stars

Or the glow-worms in the lanes!

I'd rather lie under the tall elm-trees,

Click here for complete poem